Being Committed in a Difficult Place

Introduction Being committed in a difficult place is a challenging choice we all will face at one point and time. In this life, we will be challenged in all types of situations and circumstances. There will be challenges in our relationships, careers, finances, and health. How we respond, act, react, and handle ourselves in difficult times is crucial, especially when making life-changing decisions and choices. The peace you should have during such times the world cannot give to you, and you can’t allow anything or anyone to take it away. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). There is going come a time when we will have to take a stance, a stand, a determination, and a decision that nothing shall move us from a peaceful state of being, and you are going to keep your peace regardless of what is going on. The peace that God gave and left with us is ours to keep. Don’t be distracted, don’t be derailed; stay focused. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2). Your mindset shall not be persuaded to surrender your peace at any cost. We should be reminded of our brother Paul and how he responded during difficult times and what he stated in Philippians. Paul said in so many words that he had learned the art of being content. That is it; one of the things we need to learn is how to be content, no matter what. Paul then went on to say, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11–13). So being content is not just about what you have or don’t have. It is also about your mindset, and holding on to the peace of God, his power, and his presences, just to name a few. As we journey through this book, we will discover empowerment principles and spiritual discipline that will help us to stand and be committed in the difficult seasons of life. When we are content, we can remain committed in difficult times regardless of how bad things may be or look. Not only should we learn the art of contentment, we should learn to stand. First Corinthians 15:58 (AMP) states, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].” In other words, I want to go, but I have to stay. Or I want to stay, but I have to go. Being committed will be hard at times. But sometimes we are going to have to stand strong as we look over the faults and weaknesses of others as well as ourselves. We may have to reexamine or reevaluate how we feel about certain things. Buckle down and be committed in a hard and difficult place. There are two old hymns, spiritual songs I fell in love with as young person, and I still love them. The first hymn is titled, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, no Turning Back.” Enough said, no turning back no matter what. “Though none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back.” The second hymn is titled, “On Christ the Sold Rock I Stand,” by Edward Mote. I know everyone remembers singing that in Sunday school. I love the words of this hymn also because they speak about how we should put our trust ultimately and wholly in God, Jesus. Other things and people can fail you. I know in this life we have to trust others, but only to certain limits. When all else fails, or before it fails, ultimately you have to put your trust in God. We all will be faced with difficult and trying times in this life, and during those times, the enemy of your soul wants you to think that you’re alone and the only one going through various trials and the testing of your faith. But the Word of God reassures us that we are not the only ones going through these trials, and we are never alone, my friend. Christ told us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). You can stand up, under, and in anything. You can overcome in victory and be committed in a difficult place by staying built up in the Lord and through his mighty Word. Even John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ Jesus, who came to bear witness to the coming of Christ, had a moment of remaining committed when things became difficult. A great man of God—John the Baptist—you might not think he would have a moment in life in which he was being committed in a hard and difficult place. But he did. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, questioned his commitment to God the Father; Jesus; his faith; and the Christian movement, the Way. When John was faced with challenges during while he was in prison for evangelizing, preaching, and teaching about Jesus, he had to make a decision about remaining committed or bailing out and running for the hills. So don’t shrink back. Hold true in your faith, and leap for it. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12 AMP). The book of James says, “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4). Friend, you must not and should not forfeit the manifestation of blessings and promises of God by giving up and faint in difficult times. In Galatians 6:9, we are also reminded not to give up and become discouraged in doing well for at the proper time, we will reap if we do not faint and give in.